Introduction to Public Policy Analysis - Mr. Farshtey's...
Transcript of Introduction to Public Policy Analysis - Mr. Farshtey's...
Introduction to Public PolicyAnalysis
What is Public Policy?
What is Public Policy?
Textbook #1:
“The authoritative statements or actions of government which reflect
the decisions, values, or goals of policymakers.”
What is Public Policy?
Textbook #2:
“Public policy is the sum of government activities, whether
pursued directly or through agents, as those activities have an influence
on the lives of citizens.”
What is Public Policy?
Textbook #3:
“The combination of basic decisions, commitments, and actions made by
those who hold or affect government positions of authority.”
Textbook #4:
“What governments do.”
Examples of Domestic Policy IssuesWhich 5 do you think are more important?
Federal Budget Constitutional Rights Crime and Drugs The Economy Education Health Care Immigration Poverty Minorities
Examples of Foreign PolicyWhich 5 do you think are the more important?
Defense
Democracy and Human Rights
Foreign Aid
The Global Environment
International Trade
Weapons Proliferation
Activities in Regions of the World
Decision MakingPossible actions government might take:
Do nothing * Pres. statement
Call for negotiations * Propaganda
Economic aid * Economic sanctions
Send military materials * Military presence
Military threats * Blockade
Mobilize troops * Subversive action
Use troops spy
Bombing assassination
Invasion weaken leadership
Goals of Foreign Policy
National Security
World Peace
Self-government (democracy)
Free and Open Trade
Concern for Humanity
Goal: National Security
To remain free and independent To be secure from unwanted foreign
influence Includes the use of ambassadors and
treatiesMilitary CIA FBI
Goal: World Peace
Promote peace and prevent conflicts
Cooperation with governments of foreign nations
Help save lives, money, and resources in foreign nations
Give aid to foreign nations
Membership in The United Nations
Goal:Self Government /Democracy
Encourage the growth of democracy in other nations and regions Fair elections, choices, individual freedoms
Immigration Defined: To enter and settle in a country or
region to which one is not native
Emigration Defined: Migration from a place
Goal: Free Trade
Trade arrangements where tariffs or other barriers to the free flow of goods and services are eliminated.
The basic argument for free trade is based on the idea that each region should concentrate on what it can produce most cheaply and efficiently and should exchange its products for those it is less able to produce economically.
Disadvantages of Free Trade:
Small local companies get out maneuvered and overtaken by large corporate companies
Fewer jobs available for some home countries Example: few jobs available for US auto
makers
there is more competition.
Advantages of Free Trade
Provides employment around the world
competition creates lower cost of goods
forces countries into specializing in what they are good at
This increased efficiency and results in a lower opportunity costs
Offers access to natural resources around the world
Oil, other
Goal: Humanitarian
Defined: Having concern for or helping to improve the welfare of other people.
Helps to provide political stability in other nations.
Examples: Aid for natural disasters around the world
Aid for food shortages
Aid of medical supplies and technology
What is Public Policy?
Public policy is not (solely) legislation.
Public policy is a process.
3 Levels of Policy
Choices Decisions (“policy statements”)
Outputs Action (“policy activities”)
Impacts Effects on our lives
The Stages of the Policy Process
Problem Definition (Issue formation)
Agenda Formation
Policy Adoption
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Problem Re-Definition (policy feedback)
The Stages of the Policy Process
Problem Definition (Issue formation)
Agenda Formation
Policy Adoption
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Problem Re-Definition (policy feedback)
CHOICES
The Stages of the Policy Process
Problem Definition (Issue formation)
Agenda Formation
Policy Adoption
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Problem Re-Definition (policy feedback)
CHOICES
OUTPUTS
The Stages of the Policy Process
Problem Definition (Issue formation)
Agenda Formation
Policy Adoption
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Problem Re-Definition (policy feedback)
CHOICES
OUTPUTS
IMPACT
Problem Definition
How do policy issues emerge? Triggering mechanisms
“…a critical event (or set of events) that converts a routine problem into
a widely shared, negative public response.”
Dimensions of triggeringmechanisms
Scope = # of people affected Intensity = perceived importance Time = length of time a critical event unfolds
Policy issues most likely to progress through the policy process when scope and intensity are high, and the critical event(s) happens quickly.
Triggering mechanisms constitute linkage between the perception of a problem and demand for political action.
Types of triggering mechanisms
Internal - natural catastrophes, economic calamities, technological breakthroughs, social evolution
vs.
External – acts of war, indirect conflicts, economic confrontations, balance of power
Planned vs. Unplanned
Examples of TriggeringMechanisms?
Civil Rights Policy 1960’s: Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Act,
Voting Rights Act
Environmental Policy 1970’s: Arab oil embargo 1973 various energy
policies
Social Welfare Policy 1930’s: Great Depression New Deal legislation 1960’s: Harrington/Television/Civil Rights
Movement Johnson’s War on Poverty
Examples of TriggeringMechanisms?
Education Policy 1950’s: Cold War/Sputnik (1957) Nat’l Defense Education
Act (1958) 1960’s: War on Poverty Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (1965)
Economic Policy 1980’s/1990’s: Large trade deficits Legislation to increase
economic competitiveness
Criminal Justice 1980’s/90’s: “Discovery” of crack cocaine War on Drugs
Policy Typologies
Symbolic Policies Emotional appeal; embodies values/ideals
Substantive Policies Transfer of resources; significant impact
Procedural Policies Outlines the steps in a process
Policy Typologies
Lowi’s Typology Distributive Policies – allocate benefits to the larger
population; costs tend to be widely dispersed too
Redistributive Policies – allocate benefits to a narrow, targeted population (the poor); costs tend to be targeted as well (the rich)
Regulatory Policies – competitive (regulation of market competition) and protective (protection of public from perceived harm)
Policy Typologies
Morality Policies Policies justified based on “moral values”
Highly salient
“Low information”
High levels of citizen participation / ideologically charged
Policy Theories
Purpose – to explain variation (change) in public policies (over time)
Policy Theories
State-Centered Theories Focus on government actors (organizations,
key individuals) as the primary initiators of change
Policy Theories
Decision Theory Rational Decision Making
Incremental Decision Making
Policy Theories
Pluralist Theory (of Democracy) Assumptions
While not everyone votes, nearly everyone belongs to or is represented by organization(s)
These organizations represent the political interests of their members
Government is responsive to politically organized interests No single group wins all the time
Interest group competition
Policy Theories
Elitist Theory (of Democracy) Key assumption
There exists a dominant class (elites) who monopolize political power
Ordinary citizens (the masses) have relatively little power over matters that are of concern to elites